Moistener



J. M. BOUSQUET.

MOISTENER.

' APPLICATION FILED mm. 16. 1920.

- Patented Feb. 22,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.J'OSEPH M. BOUSQUET, 0F MIDDLESEX, VERMONT;

MOI'STENER.

nseaasa.

Application filed. March 16, 1920. serial No; 366,324.

new and useful. Improvements in Moisteners,

of which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accom anying drawing.

Th s invention relates to a devicefor moistening stamps, envelop-flaps, and other articles or parts coated with adhesive, 1n order to render the adhesive susceptible of performing the function for whichit is intended. y I It is an object of the lnvontion to provide a simple and eiiicient device for thatjpurpose, with. comparatively few parts assem bled in such manner that the device will not easily out of order and with the parts so arranged that the moistening operation n-ray be performed easily and quickly.

Another object of the inventionis to combine with such a device means whereby a moistened adhesivecoated part be pressed against the surface to which it ad-' hercs, and so to arrange the presser that it also may be used as a blotter.

A further purpose of the invention is so to form the pressing means that blotting paper or other sheet material may be placed easily therein and removed therefrom.-

When read in connection with the description herein, the characteristics of the invention Will be apparent from the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof,

wherein an embodiment of the invention is disclosed, for purposes ofillustration.

While the disclosures herein exemplify what now is considered to be a preferable embodiment of the invention,.it is to be understood that it is not the intension to be limited necessarily thereto in interpretation of the claims, as modifications and adaptations within the limits of the claims can be made without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention. 1

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views of the drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a rear'elevation;

Fig. 3 is a perpendicular transverse sectional view; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom View of the upper member,

Specification of Letters Patent. P te t dF b Having more particular reference to the drawing, 5 designates a somewhat elongated base, or lower. member constituting a support for the device. The base has a substantially flat upper surface; along one 'of the longer side portions the material of the base extends slightly above the plane of that surface as a rib'6, andin'the rib there is a groove 7 openingto the flat surface. The groove is. arranged to receiveand hold a marginal portion of a sheet of blotting paper or othersuitable absorptive material 8 resting on the upper surface of the base. If desired, a sheet of felt or other suitable soft material 9 may be placed under the sheet 8.

A'fiat spring 10 issccured to the side of the base opposite to the rib 6 and it 'extends upwardly therefrom. The springis secured I to the side of and constitutes alsupport for an upper member 11.

The member 11 has a substantially flat bottom surface of about the area of the upper surface of the base 5, and in'its marginal portions it has grooves 12 arranged to receive and to hold upturned edges of a piece of blotting-paper or other suitable absorptive material'lid. If desired, a sheet of felt or othersuitable soft material 14 may beinterposed between the sheet 13 and the surface of the member 11. sorptive sheets may be withdrawn by pulling them from the holdingpgrooves and replaced by new ones.

The spring 10 absorptive coverings of the base 5, and

upper member 11 normally separated and to thereagainst. When pressure on the upper member is released, the spring, of course,

will return it to normal position and permit withdrawal of the pressed article or part.

A well 15, open at the top, is located centrally of the upper member- 11, and that member may be weighted by being formed.

in solid mass on each side of the well. The

upper surface ofthat member is inclined,

downwardly from each side of the well.

Opposite walls of the well have alined seats 16, which loosely and remov bly holdtrun- The abv is tcnsio ed to hold the nions 17 of a lower roller 18, which is rotatable in water in the well.

A standard 19 is secured to a side of the upper member, referably v against the spring 10 and by t e same fastenings 20 as hold that member 11 on the spring. A cross piece 21 of the standard 19 extends over the lower roller 18, and it has at its free end a.

depending lug 22. Alined vertical slots 23 in the standard and lug hold and act'as guides for trunnions 24 of an upper roller 25 and permit that roller to rest on the lower roller 18. e

It will be seen that the arrangement is such that pieces of sheet material, or an all ticle of that material, may be passed easily between the rollers, and that the surface thereof in contact with the lower roller ro-.

rating in water in the well will be moistoned The inclined upper surfaces of the upper member 11 serve to guide the article between the rollers. If it is desired to press the moistened article or part, as when afiixing a stamp or closing an envelop-flap, the article is placed between .the coactive surfaces of the base and upper member and the latter member then is pressed downwardly.

thereagainst; The cross piece 21 is comparatively broad and rounded on top, and thus it adapted to have a hand placed thereon to press the upper member downwardly.

Having thus described my invention,

- what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is+' .1. A device of the kind described comprising the combination. ofui lower member having a substantially flat upper surface, an upper member containing a well open at the top and having a substantially flat lower surface arranged. to coact with said surface of the lower member, a lower roller in said well, a spring keeping said surfaces normally out of contact, a standard on said upper member, and an upper roller on said standard bearing against said lower roller.

2. A device of the kind described comprising the combination of a lower member having a substantially flat upper surface, an upper member containing a well open at the top and having a substantially flat lower surface arranged to coact with said surface of the lower member, a lower roller in said aving a substantially flat upper surface,

an upper member containing a well open at the top and having a substantially flat lower surface arranged to coact with said surface of the lower member, a lower roller in said well, a spring keeping said surfaces normally out of contact, a standard on said upper member having a cross piece formed with a depending lug at its free end, there being 7 alined vertical slots in said lug and stand ard, and an upper roller bearing against said lower roller and having trunnions loosely seated in said slots. f

4. A device of the kind described com prising the combination of a base having a substantially flat upper. surface, an upper member containing a well open at the top I and having, asubstantially fiat lower surspring secured to said base, a standard, fastening means securing both said spring and standard to St1l upper member, the

spring being tensioned to keep said coactive surfaces normally'out of contact, and an upper roller on said :standard bearing against said lower roller.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature JosEPH -M. BoUsQUET.v

jface arranged to coact with said surface offlthe base, a lower roller in said well, a flat, 

